Painting a door can be a rewarding DIY project.
It's easy to spot a poorly painted door. Uneven finishes, paint on the door knob and sticky locks are all tell-tale signs of a mediocre job by an inexperienced or sloppy do-it-yourselfer. However, even a novice painter can avoid these common mistakes by using the right techniques and preparation. Properly cleaning and sanding the wood as well as painting the different sections of the door in the right order can go a long way toward helping you create a beautiful entryway.
Instructions
Prepare
1. Remove the door's hardware. Use the screwdriver to remove any screws securing the door handle and faceplate.
2. Place the drop cloth under the door to protect your flooring from paint.
3. Lightly sand the door. Use sandpaper for large flat areas and the sanding sponge for the narrow areas surrounding the panels. Be careful not to sand the surface so hard that you round the door's edges or sand through the existing finish.
4. Mix together a few drops of liquid dish-washing detergent in a pail or bucket of water.
5. Wash down the door using a soft cloth saturated with detergent mixture. This will remove any dirt from the door as well as any dust remaining from the sanding treatment. Rinse the door with clean water using a clean cloth and allow the door to dry before moving on to the next step.
Paint
6. Be sure the paint is thoroughly stirred before applying it to the door. Use the roller for the wide, flat areas. A paintbrush works best for the narrow, recessed areas.
7. Paint the door's panels, the wide, usually recessed areas in the door. Use the roller for most of a panel and the paintbrush around the edges.
8. Cover the door's center stile with paint using the roller. The center stile is the large vertical strip that runs between the panels.
9. Paint the door's rails, the horizontal spaces between, above and below the panels. Use the combination of roller and paintbrush that works best.
10. Paint the outside stiles, the vertical strips on either side of the front.
11. Coat the right and left edges of the door. The paintbrush is probably best for these narrow surfaces.
12. Apply paint to the door jamb with the brush. Begin at the top and work your way down.
13. Add a second coat if needed and allow the door to dry completly before reinstalling hardware.
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